Discourse for all interested in all things air-quality related
We humans. We tend to make mistakes. It’s in our nature to do so. It’s written in our DNA. Furthermore, when we err, as long as the inaccuracy was an innocent one and with no real harm being done, we deserve to be forgiven and then vow to do our absolute darnedest to see to … Read more
A nationwide outreach and education campaign is underway to discourage tampering with diesel engines, as well as to educate lawmakers about the proposed state legislative policies and practices that may actually encourage it, thanks to the Diesel Technology Forum (DTF). Diesel engines are highly coveted tools of work that power key sectors of our economy … Read more
U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions drop 25% to 38% below what they were in 2005 by 2030, according to projections from the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Annual Energy Outlook 2023 (AEO2023). By the end of the projection period, 2050, U.S. energy-related CO2emissions are 17% lower in this year’s Reference case compared with last year, after … Read more
“What do we want?” “When do we want it?” The two most often-posed (and repeated) questions heard at protests, rallies, marches and campaigns whether it be for advocating to end worldwide hunger or stop the destruction of the air, ecosystems and the environment related to the exploitation and burning of fossil fuels. And, speaking of … Read more
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Executive Council has endorsed plans for a new Global Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Infrastructure to fill critical information gaps and support action to reduce heat-trapping gases which are fuelling temperature increase. The Executive Council resolution recognizes the “growing societal importance of greenhouse gas monitoring in support of improving our scientific understanding of the … Read more
U.S. vehicle travel miles (VMT), for two consecutive years (2021 and ‘22), rebounded some, this after VMT during 2020 retreated to 2.903 trillion, down from 2019’s record high of 3.262 trillion miles driven. Total miles driven during 2021 and 2022 were 3.14 trillion and 3.169 trillion, respectively, according to U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT), … Read more
Information I read recently regarding plane versus train travel asserted that Acela trains on the Amtrak-owned Northeast Corridor (NEC) running between Washington, D.C. and New York City enjoy a 75 percent market share of air/rail-based commuter traffic in that service lane. Wow! Seventy-five percent! So, there are any number of reasons for the 75/25 train/plane … Read more
Like like magnetic forces phenomena that repel each other, air quality and meteorology would seem. We can see neither, yet, we know they’re there. Which makes describing their relationship – relationship, as in how they interact – difficult for one to put one’s finger on. But, is all of this even important? I believe it is absolutely! … Read more
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit today unanimously rejected a challenge to the most recent update of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, which protects millions of Americans from dangerous air pollution that blows across state lines from upwind coal-fired power plants. Today’s decision means those protections will remain … Read more
In “Black carbon and its climate impact: What we know,” presented were a few black-carbon basics and how, when present in the atmosphere, is a climate-forcing agent. For example, from that post, I wrote: “So, beginning at the beginning, black carbon is created as a result of incomplete combustion when it comes to the burning … Read more